“Volunteer” column for Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012

“Volunteer” column for Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012

Volunteer opportunities, provided by Volunteer! United (formerly Volunteer! Baton Rouge) are outlined in this column every Sunday. To learn more about these opportunities, contact the listed agency directly.

GET HANDS ON FOR THE HOLIDAYS, Capital Area United Way — Erika Roberts (225) 346-5802: Take a little time out of holiday preparations this month to help make the holidays special for someone else. The HandsOn program will be offering five holiday projects beginning Dec. 18. Daytime, evening and weekend volunteer opportunities are available.

For more information and to sign up to volunteer, visit the website at http://www.cauwvolunteer.org/.

HELP DURING THE HOLIDAYS, Salvation Army — La Guardia Collins (225) 355-4483: Help the Salvation Army assist 5,000 individuals with toys, shoes, clothing and food boxes during the holiday season.

Volunteers are needed at the distribution center in Baker. Groups are also needed to help ring bells. Gather friends, teammates or co-workers and sign up for a day.

Find out more information about these and other ways to support the Salvation Army by contacting Collins.

COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER FOR CHRISTMAS, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge — Kayla Richard at (225) 336-8700 or krichard@ccdiobr.org: This program connects families in need of Christmas gifts with sponsors in the community. Choose a family to sponsor, purchase gifts and deliver the gifts to Catholic Charities or the sponsored family’s home.

Volunteers are needed Wednesday through Dec. 17 to help sort and distribute gifts or deliver gifts to sponsored families. For more information or to volunteer, contact Richard.

HELP OTHERS WITH THEIR TAXES, Capital Area United Way — Jillian Sergio (225) 382-3507 or jillians@cauw.org: Capital Area United Way is seeking Volunteer Income Tax Assistance volunteers for the upcoming 2013 tax season. VITA volunteers will receive training from the IRS to provide free tax preparation for low-to-moderate income families who need assistance with their tax returns, which in turn helps provide more financially stable futures for community members.

For more information, visit http://cauw.org/taxprep or contact Sergio.

HELP WITH YOUR HAMMER AND MORE, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge — Kristen Lastrapes (225)927-6651 or Kristen@habitatbrla.org: Help build a home in Plaquemine in the coming weeks.

Volunteers are needed this upcoming Saturday as well as on Jan. 19 and Jan. 26. Volunteers must be a minimum of 16 years old to participate. For more information or to sign up to volunteer, contact Lastrapes.